Can-closing machine



P. FLEISCHER.

CAN CLOSING MACHINE.

1,370,804. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 6, I 9l5j I Mar. 8

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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CAN CLOSING MACHINE.

IAPPLICATIO-N FILED DEC. 6. 1915. Patented Mar 8,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- P. W, FLEISCHER.

CAN CLOSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 6, 1915.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

mzwmm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

raunw. rnmscnna, on NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR 'ro AMERICAN cAN COMPANY,

A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

oA -cLosINe MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Original application filed December 1, 1915, Serial No. 64,494. Divided and this application filed December 6, 1915. Serial No. 65,266. 3

T 0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL W. F LEISOHE-R, a citizen of the United States, residing. in New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in' Can-Closing Machines, of which the following is a specifi'cation.

- The invention relates to can closing machines, and has for its object to enable these machines to be operated successfully by persons who are not skilled, or who are occa sionally careless, by automatically preventing the breakage of or injury to those parts of the machine, and their actuating connections, which feed or operate on the can bodies and can ends. It is desired to drive these machines with high power and at comparatively high speed, and in case a can or can end which enters the machine is, through accident or carelessness, not of the size or formation on which the machine has been adjusted to operate, or in case such object is not properly positioned by reason of an unskilful adjustment of some part of the machine, the mechanism may become jammed and the machine stopped against the full power of the prime motor. The result of this isor may be quite serious, requiring the operation of packing to be suspended,

with loss of time and material, until a broken or injured part of the mechanism can be replaced or repaired.

According to the present improvement the seaming head or the can end feed, and preferably both of these mechan1sms, 'is or are provided with a yielding or frictlon driver which overcomes all of the resistance due to the ordinary and designed operations of the machine, but. which will yield in the case of unusual obstruction .or resistance and allow the said mechanisms to come safely to rest, while the prime motor, and mam powershaft or element of the machine driven thereby, may continue to operate until the power is thrown ofi orcut out. The deformed can body or end'can then be removed, the adjustment of the machine perfected if necessary, and the packing (can closing) can be.

continued without further delay.

With such objects in view, as well as the attainment of all other features of usefulness and advantage which are inherent in the improved can closing machine, the invention consists in the parts and combina- Patented Mar. 8, 1921. I

tions thereof hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood there are shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical efi'ect, without limitmg the improvements, in their useful applications, to the particular construction which, for the purpose'of example, has been made the subject of illustration. In the said draw- 111 s .igure .1 is a rear view of a portion of a can closlng machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the upper portion F ig..3 is a vertical section on line I II I of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a bottom planview of one of the yielding driving elements. 1

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the other of upper part and feed end of the machine be-.

in removed.

ig. 9 is a perspective view. showing'the lever which is tripped by advancing cans so as to cause the can end feed to 0 erate.

Referring to the drawings, rom which most of the frame parts have been omitted for clearer illustration, 87 is the seaming head under-which the ifilled and open top cans are fed by a continuously moving chain 52. 84' is a lifter which successively raises the cans through a centering. device 252 to receive a caniend over its top and be re s'ented to the seaming head. 257, is a side i which delivers the can ends from under a stack holder 254 over the said centering device. 59 is a main vertical cam shaft which drives the feed chainsprocket 50 by a chain v57, the lifter by acam 103 and a yoke lever 99 and the slide 257 byan eccentric 3 5.8. 21 7' is a vertical shaft which rotates the seaming head and parallel with which-the latter is vertically a j ustable.

70 of the same illustrating the driving earin The chain 52 propels the cans by lugs 53, and the cans successively operate the lever 370, which controls the can end feed slide 257, by a rod 367 and other s1 itable connections, as seen in Fig. 8. The operation of these connections is that if a can body to be closed does not operate the lever 370 the cocentric rod 346 of the eccentric 358 on the shaft 59 will still operate the two-part can end feed lever 326, 329 horizontally, but the lever arm 329 will remain depressed and out v of connection with the slide 257 so that a can end will not be fed. The depression of the arm 329 is effected by an angle lever 361 swung by the rod 367 and at such time (when the lever 370 is pressed aside by a can) acting to release a vertically movable pin 365 attached to the arm 329. As shown in Fig. 8 a can body has pressed aside the arm 370 and the lever 361 has set free the pin 365 so that the arm 329 is not depressed and may feed a can end.-

Normally thearm 329 remains depressed and inoperative being held down by the pin 365 and the pin by the lever 361. These features of construction and operation are fully set forth in my companion a plication now Patent'No'. 1,330,071 grante Feb. 10, 1920. The can lifter or plunger 84 is shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 7 it is partly concealed from view by interveningparts. It is supmeshes with and drives a worm gear 382' mounted near the top of the vertical cam shaft 59. Adjacent the worm 381 and also keyed to the-powershaft 380 is a beveled gear 383 which meshes with and drives a bevel pinion 384 fixed on the upper end of the vertical shaft 217' of the seaming head drive gear'217. The gear 217 has preferably formed integral therewith a sleeve 385 which is rotatably mounted in the bracket 138. The seaming head casing (not shown) and the bracket 138 which is or may be a part thereof are adjustable vertically. In

consequence of this the gear wheel 217 and its sleeve 385 are designed to slide vertically on the shaft 217' by means of a feather key 386 (Fig. 1'). From this it will be seen that as the casing and bracket 138' are moved the gear 217 will slide 'vertically on the shaft 217 and always be able to receive power therefrom.

In order that there may be no danger of breakage or damage of any of the numerous parts operated by the cam shaft 59, because of anything becoming jammed in the mechanism, there is provided at the upper ex tremity of the vertical drive shaft 59 a yieldable friction driving safety slip or latch device, which will give if anything should'arrest the proper operation of the machine.

The worm gear 382 is rotatably mounted upon a sleeve 387 keyed to the vertical cam shaft 59. The lower end of this sleeve is provided with an annular collar 388 upon which the worm gear 382 rests. In the upper face of the worm gear is an annular depression 389 in which is secured a. case hardened steel latch ring 390. Above the worm gear and vertically slidably mounted upon the sleeve 387 by means of a feather key 391 isan outer sleeve or latch hub 392. This latch hub is also provided at its lower end with an annular surface 393 which bears upon the ring 390 in the worm gear 382' The ring 390 is provided in its upper face with two beveled notches 394 located off center or non-diametrically and adapted to receive and normally retain two case hardened steel beveled latches 395 (Fig. 4) secured in recesses designed to receive -the same in the lower face of thecollar 393 of the hub 392. Bearing .upon the upper face of the collar 393 is a compression latch spring 396 which is adjustably held under tension by a lock nut 397 threaded onto the upper end of the inner sleeve 387. The tension of the spring is made suflicient to hold the blocks in the notches for the transmission of power under ordinary conditions. But if any extraordinary tension is caused by something jammed in'the mechanisms driven by the cam shaft 59, the worm gear 382 will continue to rotate but will force the beveled blocks 395 up against the pressure of the spring and out of engagement with the notches 394. The blocks 395 will then rest upon the smooth surface of the. ring 390 as it rotates until the notches 394 make a be loosened or tightened to lessen or increase the pressure of the s ring.

The two beveled b ocks 395 and the corresponding notches 394 are located off the diametrical center line. This particular construction is desirable to insure a complete revolution of the worm gear 382 before they can again engage. Were it not for this they Would interclutch when they, ad made but one half of a revolution with increased'numher of shocks, and might throw the various mechanisms out of time.

By seaming head I include various can end attaching means. Such means may be a clencher which crimps the head loosely on to a can, all around the circumference or in spots. Also, when the seaming head is, used, only the first operation or curling roll may be put in operation, the complete hermetic seaming by the second operation being done by any suitable means after processing the filled and partly or loosely closed can; and the words closing machine are not limited to-a machine which hermetically closes the cans. This application is a division of my copending application Serial #564,494, filed Dec. 1, 1915. I I do not claim herein the safety coupling device shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 excepting in the combinations stated in my claims,

said device per 86 beingthe subject of my application, a division hereof, filed Jan. 26,

1921, Serial No'. 440,009.

What is claimed is 1. In a can closing machine, in combination: a conveyer for feeding filled cans; a

seaming mechanism; a centering device below the seaming mechanism; a lifter for delivering the cans to be closed through the centering 'deviceto the seaming mechanism; a can end feeding mechanism; a shaft having means for actuating said conveyer,-lifter and can end feed; a frictional automatically self yieldable driving latch for actuating said shaft; and a power mechanism for actuating the said driving latch; and a seaming head connected with said power mechanism irrespective of said latch.

2. In a can closing machine, in combination: a conveyer for feeding filled cans; a seaming mechan sm; a centering device bee low the seaming mechanism; a lifter for decam shaft; and apower mechanism for ac-,

livering the cans to be closed through the centering device to'the seamingmechanism; a can end feeding mechanism; means whereby the can to be closed controls the can end feed; a vertical cam shaft havingmeans for actuating said conveyer, lifter and can end feed; a frictional and automatically self yieldable driving latch for actuating said tuating the said driving latch; and a seaming head connected withsaid power'mechanism irrespective of said latch. i

3. In a can closing. machine, in combination: a conveyer for feeding filled cans; a seaming mechanism; a centering device below the seaming. mechanism; a'lifter for-dc"- livering the cans to be closed through the centering device t?) the seaming mechanism;

' a can end feeding mechanism means whereby the can to be closed controlsthe can end feed; a cam shaft hav ng means for actuating said conveyer, lifter and' c an end feed;

beveled latches and corresponding notches and a spring forming a frictional and automatically self yieldable drivinglatch for actuating said cam shaft; and a power mechanism for actuating the said driving latch; and a seaming head connected with said power mechanism irrespective of said latch.

4. In 'a can closing machine, in combination: a conveyer for feeding filled cans; a seaming mechanism; a centering device below the seaming mechanism; a lifter for deliveringthe cans to be closed through the centering device to the seaming mechanism;

. acan end feeding mechanism; means wherehead connected with said power mechanism.

irrespective of said latch.

5. In a can closing machine, in combination; a conveyer for feeding filled cans; a

seaming mechanism; a centeringdevice below the seaming mechanism; a lifter for delivering the cans to be closed through the centering device to the seaming mechanism; a can end feeding mechanism; a shaft having means foractuating said conveyer, lifter and can end feed; a frictional and automatically self yieldable driving latch for actuating said shaft arranged to make "a complete revolution before reefngagement andm'aintainthe' proper timing of the subsidiary mechanism; and a power mechanism for actuating the said driving'latch.

6. In a machine for attaching. ends to cans, in combination: a conveyer for feeding cans or can bodies; mechanism for operating on the can end to bend the flange of the same; means for holding the can inplace relative to the said bending mechanism; a.

frictional automatically self yieldable connection through which said conveyer is driven definitely timed for automatic reengagement; and power mechanism connected with the said mechanism for operating on the'can end and with the said yieldable connection, and actuating the same. I

7 In a machine for attaching ends to .cans, in combination: a conveyer for feeding deans or can bodies; mechanism for operatmg on the can end to bend the flange of the same; means for holding the can in place relative to the said bending mechanism, in-

cluding a can body centering device; a frictional automatically self yieldable connec-- tion through which said conveyer is driven;

and power. mechanism connected with the said mechanism for operating on the can end and with the said yieldable connection, and actuating the same.

a 8. In a machine for attaching ends to cans, in combination: a conveyer for feeding cans or can bodies; mechanism for operating on the can end to bend the flange of the same; a can body lifter for holding the can in place relative to the said bending mechanism; a frictional automatically self yieldable connection through which said conveyer is driven; and power mechanism connected with the said mechanism for operating on the can end, and with the said yieldable connection, actuating the same.

9. In a machine for attaching ends to cans, in combination: a conveyer for feeding cans or can bodies; can end feeding mechanism; mechanism for operating on the can end to bend the flange of .the same; means for holding the can in place relative to the said bending mechanism; a frictional automatically self yieldable connection through which said conveyer is driven; and power mechanism connected with the said mechanism foroperating on the can end and with the said yieldable connection, and actuating the same.

10. In a machine for attaching ends to cans, in combination: a conveyer for feed ing cans or can bodies; mechanism for operating on the can end to bend the flange of the same; means for holding the can in place relative to the said bending mechanism; a knockout for ejecting the covered can; a frictional automatically self yieldable connection through which said conveyer is driven; and power mechanism connected with the said mechanism for operating on the "can end, and with the said yieldable connection, actuating the same.

' In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature hereto.

PAUL W. FLEISCHER. 

